An intense Hall-type ion source for satellite propulsion

The design improvements of future plasma thrusters require the investigation of the physical phenomena occurring during the thruster operation. We have investigated a small, Hall-type thruster (or stationary plasma thruster). The different currents and the thrust of the thruster will be reported. Plasma parameters have been measured with Langmuir probes located outside the thruster. Finally, an electrostatic ion energy analyzer located in the plume has permitted the determination of the ion energy distribution function. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.